Page 89 of His Wicked Charm

Con grinned and started forward, holding the lantern out in front of him. “Watch out for holes. I’d hate to tumble into some oubliette.”

“I’m more worried about the tunnel collapsing on us.”

They came upon a few small rooms, empty of all but dirt and rubble.

“I wonder where we are,” Lilah commented. “It seems as if we must be beyond the house.”

“The castle may have been laid out somewhat differently than Barrow House. By and large, we’ve been heading east, in the direction of the maze, but I believe this tunnel is going back under the house.”

“I wish I had some idea whether you actually know these things or are bluffing.”

He laughed. “I’m fairly certain. And you can’t deny you have a powerful effect on me.” He couldn’t resist dipping his head and planting a firm kiss on her mouth. They walked on, but at last they came to an abrupt stop at a blank wall. “It seems we’ve reached the end of the road. Quite literally.”

No amount of searching the cracks and crevices of the stone turned up a latch or lever. Nor could they find any line of separation, however thin, that might betoken a door set into the wall. At last they were forced to admit defeat, and they turned around to trudge back up the stairs to the cellars.

It was a relief to exit the cramped space of the staircase. The cellars might be dirty and often odorous, but at least one could stand up straight. Con started toward the path back but stopped and pointed in the opposite direction. “We didn’t finish going through the cellars. I got distracted by the staircase. Shall we continue?” He looked at Lilah. “Or perhaps you’re tired. I’m afraid we went straight through luncheon.”

“No, let’s see the rest of it. I don’t want to wonder if we missed it because we didn’t bother to finish.”

Con nodded and set off. The pathway ended in a series of connecting rooms, arched doorways leading from one to another. The first room had nothing in it but dirt. The next held a few wooden kegs, one broken, as well as some discarded furniture and a very old chest. They passed through two more, both empty.

“No doorways, hidden or otherwise.” Con sighed. “If your grandfather found a sanctuary down here, he’s better at searching than I. I fear we’ve wasted this day.”

“There’s still my grandfather’s office to look through,” Lilah said encouragingly, taking his hand.

Con smiled down at her, touched by her attempt to buoy his feelings. He squeezed her hand. “Yes. I’m sure we’ll find the key.”

“And there are the trunks.”

“What trunks?”

“Cuddington also told me this morning that my father had all Sir Ambrose’s things packed in trunks and stored away. Personal things from his bedchamber. Father even did some of it himself.”

“You think then that he packed things he didn’t want anyone else to see? That sounds promising.”

“I thought so. I told Cuddington to have Ruggins find them and bring them down from the attic.” She came to a stop. “Con... There are trunks down here.”

“You mean that old chest in the room back there?” Con looked doubtful.

“No, it’s too old. And why stick it way back there? But closer to the stairs into the house, after the wine cellar and the storerooms for foodstuffs, there were some rooms filled with odds and ends. I’m sure I saw chests and boxes in there.”

They turned back, heading toward the stairs, and as Lilah had remembered, near the front, they came upon a storeroom containing a number of trunks as well as old furniture. The trunks were of varying sizes and shapes, but all were covered in a uniform dust of disuse. Con opened the closest and found a stack of old clothing and shoes. Lilah wound her way through them and stopped beside a humpbacked trunk. Leaning down, she wiped away the dust on the center of the top. “Con.”

Her voice was sharp, and Con’s head snapped up. “What?” He stepped across a trunk and around another to join her.

“Look.” She pointed to the symbol of a triskele adorning the top of the chest.

A slow grin spread across his face. “Lilah, my love, you’re a wonder.”

He tried to lift the lid, but it wouldn’t move. He squatted down beside it, examining the keyhole on the front side. “I think I can open this, if you’ll lend me a couple of hairpins.”

After a moment, the lock clicked, and Con opened the lid. A square of folded white material lay on top, covering the other contents. Con took it out and stood up, letting the fabric unfold. It was a long loose-fitting garment made of white linen, slightly yellowed with time, that fell past Con’s knees. The sleeves were long and bell-shaped, tapering to a point, and embroidered spirals marched down the front.

“I think we’ve found it.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

“IT’S A SURPLICE,” Lilah said, reaching out to touch it. Her pulse raced.